Trigger warnings: deportation, forced separation of families.
Well this was adorable. I listened to the audiobook while out for a walk, and it definiteTrigger warnings: deportation, forced separation of families.
Well this was adorable. I listened to the audiobook while out for a walk, and it definitely made me nostalgic for being able to go out into a new city and just go to restaurants and stop and look at interesting things and places along the way.
The second chance element of the story was lovely, and I really liked both of the characters. Part of me wishes I'd reread the first book in the series before reading this one so that I remembered more about Likotsi's personality. But it definitely wasn't necessary.
The dual timeline thing was a lot of fun, and I had a great time reading this. ...more
I've been meaning to read this for the past couple of years and have never quiteTrigger warnings: drought, animal death, starvation, death, violence.
I've been meaning to read this for the past couple of years and have never quite gotten around to it until now - better late than never?? The first...30-40%??...of the story is hard hitting, discussing Kamkwamba's childhood, the 2000 drought in Malawi and how his burning desire for education had to be put on hold several times due to his parents being unable to pay his school fees.
The remainder of the story is Kamkwamba's discovery of the library in his village and his determination to educate himself and use that education to better his community. It's an inspiring story, and in some ways I'm glad I read the young readers edition because this was hard hitting enough as it was! I'll be following with interest to see what incredible things he does next. ...more
Trigger warnings: death of a family member, grief, emotionally abusive parenting, biphobia, mentions of abortion and miscarriage.
I was somewhat hesitTrigger warnings: death of a family member, grief, emotionally abusive parenting, biphobia, mentions of abortion and miscarriage.
I was somewhat hesitant to pick this up because while I liked Xeni's character in Rafe, I didn't love Rafe the way that everyone else seems to have done. But this, somehow, worked much better for me. The two leads and their dynamic are utterly delightful. It was a *little* instalove-y for my liking, but whatever. Their openness and frank discussions about their lives, their pasts and their sexual preferences was wonderful. Plus, the fact that the big tension/break up moment in the story doesn't revolve around miscommunication is a win.
I will say that I read the last 30% of this between 6am and 6.30am and I definitely didn't expect to be reading about pegging and fisting that early in the morning. And yet here we are. It was much funnier than I expected though, so there's that too. ...more
So here's the thing: I loved the idea of Trigger warnings: homophobia, assault, unexpected parenthood, mental health, mentions of suicide.
3.5 stars.
So here's the thing: I loved the idea of a teen pregnancy story that's about the father and how his life is affected when his baby is dumped in his lap. I loved the idea of getting the perspective of his brother as well, especially when said brother is struggling with being gay and the way he's being treated by his brother's friends.
But. I didn't particularly like Dante as a protagonist?? Like, I felt for him and the fact that he's had this baby handed to him out of the blue just as he's finishing high school and meant to be going off to university and now his entire life has changed. But. He was kind of an asshole teenage boy, you know? And being in his head so much was a struggle a lot of the time.
That being said, I liked the journey that the two boys and their dad went on together regarding toxic masculinity and the "boys don't cry" mentality. So...there's that. ...more
Trigger warnings: death of a loved one, terminal illness, shitty parenting, miscommunication
4.5 stars.
I loved this. I really really did. Yes, it's goTrigger warnings: death of a loved one, terminal illness, shitty parenting, miscommunication
4.5 stars.
I loved this. I really really did. Yes, it's got some instalove-esque elements to it. But it was essentially a soul mates story so I was willing to overlook that. Especially because it wasn't completely mutual instalove - yes, Jack was all heart eyes all the time, but Kate took a while to come around.
Mostly I loved this because it was sassy and sarcastic and full of complexities in both relationships and friendships. I loved seeing how Jack's decisions changed each loop. I loved the friendship between Jack and Franny especially. I kind of wanted the final solution to be (view spoiler)[that Jack was the perfect bone marrow match to help Kate rather than him having to make a ton of money through gambling and use it to pay a doctor for an experimental treatment (hide spoiler)] but I still loved this.
It's sweet and sarcastic and emotional in ways I didn't expect. ...more
Trigger warnings: incarceration, racism, racial profiling, gun violence, arrest of a parent, incarceration of a parent, domestic violence, sibling witTrigger warnings: incarceration, racism, racial profiling, gun violence, arrest of a parent, incarceration of a parent, domestic violence, sibling with cancer, drug use, poverty.
4.5 stars.
It took me a while to get into this and I honestly don't know why. Quan is a fantastic character, and I loved how Stone flashed back to his childhood to show how he ended up where we first see him in Dear Martin. I also loved that Stone showed how similar Quan and Justyce's lives were in their youth when they first knew each other and how the tiniest differences set their lives on completely different trajectories.
I think most of all, I loved the fact that Doc was back because Doc is a precious bean who sees the potential in all teenagers regardless of the choices they've made in life and the shit that life has thrown their way, and I adore him. Basically? I wish all teenagers someone like him in their lives. ...more
Trigger warnings: violence, vomit, (view spoiler)[blackmail, mentions of sexual assault (in the past), medical crisis for a parent, shitty parenting (Trigger warnings: violence, vomit, (view spoiler)[blackmail, mentions of sexual assault (in the past), medical crisis for a parent, shitty parenting (hide spoiler)]
3.5 stars.
I loved Brynn as a side character in the previous books in this series, so I was very much looking forward to her getting her happily ever after in this book. And the dynamic between Maxwell and Brynn was a lot of fun. I loved that they bonded over Parks and Rec. I loved that Brynn was obsessed with sneakers. I loved her relationship with her dad.
But. So much of this story revolved around the characters Not Using Their Words, and that drives me absolutely up the fucking wall. Most of the tension revolves around dramatic misunderstandings and the whole thing could have played out in, like, a hundred less pages if they'd just TALKED to each other. So yeah. I liked this. But it definitely wasn't my favourite in the series. ...more
Trigger warnings: war, death of a parent, violence, graphic death, gore, death of a sibling, grief, racism, mentions of HIV.
I have put off reading thTrigger warnings: war, death of a parent, violence, graphic death, gore, death of a sibling, grief, racism, mentions of HIV.
I have put off reading this for YEARS not because I wasn't interested in it but because it's hugely popular with the 12 year olds at work and my brain shelved it in the same category as Soul Surfer, a book I have flipped through a couple of times while shelving and ultimately decided is not for me.
But this? I was HOOKED from the first chapter and I flew through it. Michaela's story was utterly compelling and this is written in a very engaging way with a writing style and tone that very much fits the fact that she was still a teenager when she and her mother wrote this.
The timeline does jump around somewhat in the second half of the book, and at times I found it a little difficult to keep track of where they were living and which ballet school she was attending at which time. But ultimately, it didn't really matter because we all know what she will go onto, we know that she already has the career that she's aspiring to for so much of the book. So while the end felt a little abrupt, I didn't mind because I already knew her future. ...more
Trigger warnings: incarceration, violence, racial profiling, assault, parent with substance abuse issues, mentions of drug use, mentions of death, menTrigger warnings: incarceration, violence, racial profiling, assault, parent with substance abuse issues, mentions of drug use, mentions of death, mentions of gun violence.
I read and loved Monster by the same author several years ago and I was hoping that this would fall into a similar knock-it-out-of-the-park category. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite hit for me. For one thing, it's very short, and there is so much going on in the story that it ultimately felt like none of it was handled quite as thoroughly as I would have liked. Add in an especially abrupt ending to the story and I was just left wanting...more. Sigh. ...more
Trigger warnings: death of a parent, alcoholic parent, car accident, hospitalisation of a parent, grief, cancer, homelessness, mentions of drug use.
3.Trigger warnings: death of a parent, alcoholic parent, car accident, hospitalisation of a parent, grief, cancer, homelessness, mentions of drug use.
3.5 stars.
I've loved every one of Jason Reynolds that I've read in the past, so I was hoping this would be the same. And it *was* but it also wasn't?? IDK. It's ultimately a book about the importance of community and finding your place within that community. I liked the way that Matt realises that funerals can be funny or joyous or comforting as much as they are about grieving a loss. I liked Lovey as a character and the writing was wonderful.
But this ended so abruptly that I literally thought there was a chapter missing from my library's copy of the book. So that was something of a let down. ...more
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